Cozumel

 The ferry ride to Cozumel is easy and smooth.  The many colors of the water here in the Caribbean are amazing.  All shades of blue.  I get off the boat and easily get a taxi.  Super nice driver, friendly local.  I happily check in, I am the ONLY person with a reservation that day, which makes me a little sad.  So many of the resorts and hotels are empty.  Anyway, I go to get some lunch in the hotel restuarant while I am waiting for my room and I reach for my phone to let people know I have arrived safely and, no phone.  I look everywhere.....  panic beings and I go back to the desk.  I am trying to get some help with this and they are trying their best to reach the Ferry company (no answer), the taxi company....  I am getting very nervous.  How the heck could I get a replacement phone? 

Let's gloss over my hysteria and give you the happy ending.  The phone is in the taxi and the driver is on his way back to give it to me.  Took 45 minutes and many grey hairs and tears, but my phone and I are reunited.  Phew!  Lessons learned - write down phone numbers, apple ID and password.  And, do NOT leave your phone anywhere in your purse but ZIPPED inside.  

Sunset

I have a nice room there is the sea, the pool and included meals.  

I walk on Tuesday over to The Mexican Museum of traditional Arts to have a chocolate and museum tour.  And, to make my own chocolate bar!  I learned a lot and had fun making a bar.  I was the only one, so I got a private tour.

Jaguar

My guide, Eli

My chocolate bar.  I have yet to try it!

I swim in the ocean, I hang out in a hammock over the water and generally mess around.  I go on Wednesday on a boat to learn to snorkel.  This was the highlight!  There are just 4 of us on the boat and one is another American woman traveling alone.  We bonded :-). I have never snorkeled but I am a good swimmer so I am not too worried.  The boat will take us to three spots, says our guide.  

Jumping off the side the first time is a little scary, but once in the water and one look at the how crystal clear the water is and I am amazed and awed.  The fish are everywhere.  One swims into me!  We see lots of colors of fish, lots of reef, a barracuda, many stingrays (which are prehistoric looking and are spooky fast), a Sea Turtle!! and then one place that has starfish, just starfish everywhere.  We also swim in very shallow, warm, beautifully clear water.  And white sand.  The sea turtle was my favorite.  It just moved its little flippers a bit and swam fast!  Snorkeling got easier as I grew accustomed to how to breathe and hold the snorkel properly.  And it rained.  We saw a storm miles from us with funnel clouds, I think that's what they are called.  I tried to get some pictures.  I got every kind of water on this trip - sea water, rain, pool, and lots of showers!  I did not take my camera in the water....  but  here are some pictures of the sea.

 

 

 Cheryl, the other woman on the snorkeling trip, tells me she is renting a care to drive around the 'wild' side of the island on Thursday so we make a plan to go together.  She wants to stop at the Mayan Cocoa tour so I get another chocolate tour!  I learned different things from our guides.  We get a private tour from Roberto!  He calls himself the Mayan Willy Wonka.  He makes some in the traditional Mayan way that he learned from his Grandmother.  We don't get to make a bar, but they give us one (and I buy another.  chocolate for days !). We make lots of little stops, have lunch at beautiful seaside beach and then its back to the ferry for me!

My new friend (s)!

Gods and Chocolate

Pepe the Parrot

Lunch at the beach.  I will have to look up the name of this beach.  It was beautiful. It was a little sad to see so many empty resorts and beaches.  

The many colors of the sea.  

I get back on the ferry, take a taxi back home and I get Shrimp Tacos delivered, again!  I think maybe I could live on these tacos.  4 tacos and a bag of homemade tortilla chips, delivered, for about $9 - USD!  Sigh.  Yummmy. And the great thing is, I have one or two for dinner and then again tomorrow!  2 Meals:-)

Believe it or not, I am so ready to get back to work!  I want to get really settled, and begin this chapter of my life.  Ugh - that sounds so cliche.  let me re word that.  The pandemic has put many people's lives on hold.  Disrupted everyone's routine.  I am hoping that in getting back to work I will feel more settled and that I will feel useful again.  Take good care my friends!